SAN JOSE (KCBS) – Several attendees of a Tony Robbins motivational event were injured, some seriously, at a so-called “firewalk” outside the San Jose Convention Center on Thursday night.

The San Jose Fire Department said approximately 6,000 people attended the “Unleash the Power Within” event.

At the end of the first day of the event, conventioneers lined up along Park Avenue and walked across 10-foot-long strips of hot coals.

KCBS’ Betsy Gebhart Reports:

San Jose Fire Capt. Reggie Williams said the ritual took an hour and a half.

“When it was all said and done, we treated approximately 21 people at the scene for burns and we transported three,” said Williams. “The burns, from what I understand, were second and third degree burns.”

Fire walking is intended to be a confidence-building exercise.

Williams said he and the department did receive reports that more firewalkers went back to their hotels and called 911, although the exact number is unknown.

The event did have an open fire permit from the San Jose Fire Department and a fire inspector was on scene to make sure there was no accidental fire.

The four-day event concludes on Sunday in downtown San Jose.

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Betsy GebhartBetsy Gebhart has been a reporter in the KCBS Santa Clara county bureau for the last 5 years. She is a veteran radio and tv reporter. She started...More fromBetsy Gebhart